Control panel assembly and washing machine having the same

ABSTRACT

A washing machine with a structure to prevent moisture introduced into a control panel assembly from permeating a printed circuit board (PCB). The washing machine includes a cabinet, a control panel provided at a front of the cabinet, a button unit provided at the control panel, a PCB provided at a rear of the control panel, and a waterproof member provided between the button unit and the PCB to prevent water introduced into the button unit from permeating the PCB. The waterproof member is coupled to a rear of the button unit to form a drainage channel to drain the water introduced into the button unit in cooperation with the button unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2011-0104016, filed on Oct. 12, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a control panel assembly with a structure to prevent moisture from permeating the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) included in the control panel assembly and a washing machine having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A washing machine washes laundry using electric power. Generally, a washing machine includes a cabinet forming the external appearance thereof, a tub disposed in the cabinet to contain wash water, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub, and a motor to rotate the drum.

When the drum is rotated by the motor in a state in which laundry and detergent water are contained in the drum, the laundry rubs against the drum and wash water so that contaminants are removed from the laundry.

Generally, a washing machine is provided at the front of a machine body thereof with a control panel assembly to control the operation of the washing machine. The control panel assembly includes a control panel having at least one manipulation button, a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed at the rear of the control panel and connected to the manipulation button, and a support part disposed at the rear of the PCB to support the PCB.

The manipulation button is assembled in a button hole formed at the control panel and protruding from the front of the control panel so that a user manipulates the manipulation button. As a result, a gap according to assembly tolerance is provided between the manipulation button and the button hole.

In the conventional art, the surface of the PCB is coated with urethane to provide a waterproof coating in order to prevent moisture introduced through the gap between the manipulation button and the button hole from directly contacting the PCB during the use of the washing machine. However, material cost is increased, and productivity due to the waterproof coating is lowered. Furthermore, product defects may occur if the waterproof coating is not uniform.

SUMMARY

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a control panel assembly with an improved structure to prevent moisture introduced thereinto from permeating a printed circuit board (PCB) and a washing machine having the same.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet, a control panel provided at a front of the cabinet, a button unit provided at the control panel, a PCB provided at a rear of the control panel, and a waterproof member provided between the button unit and the PCB to prevent water introduced into the button unit from permeating the PCB.

The waterproof member may be coupled to a rear of the button unit to form a drainage channel to drain the water introduced into the button unit in cooperation with the button unit.

The waterproof member and the button unit may form at least one drainage port communicating with the drainage channel to guide water flowing along the drainage channel to a lower part of the cabinet.

The control panel may include at least one button hole formed through the control panel, and the button unit may include at least one button protruding from a front thereof and exposed to a front of the control panel through the at least one button hole.

The button unit may include a receiving groove formed at a position corresponding to the at least one button, and the waterproof member may include at least one support boss protruding from a front thereof and received in the receiving groove to support the at least one button.

The at least one button may include a contact protrusion protruding from a rear thereof toward a rear of the control panel to contact the PCB.

The waterproof member may include a first through hole formed through the support boss so that the contact protrusion contacts the PCB through the support boss.

The button unit may include a second through hole formed through the button unit to guide water introduced through a gap between the button hole and the button exposed to the front of the control panel through the button hole to the drainage channel.

The button unit and the waterproof member may be obliquely disposed so that the water introduced into the button unit is drained to the lower part of the cabinet through the drainage port.

The waterproof member may be formed in a shape corresponding to the button unit.

The waterproof member may include at least one fastening protrusion protruding from a front thereof, and the button unit may include at least one fastening hole provided at a position corresponding to the at least one fastening protrusion so that the at least one fastening protrusion is coupled to the at least one fastening hole.

The waterproof member may be formed of rubber exhibiting elasticity.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a control panel assembly to control an operation of the washing machine, wherein the control panel assembly includes a control panel disposed at a front of a cabinet of the washing machine, the control panel having at least one button hole, a button unit having at least one button exposed to a front of the control panel through the at least one button hole, a waterproof member formed in a shape corresponding to the button unit and coupled to a rear of the button unit to form a drainage channel to drain the water introduced into the button unit in cooperation with the button unit, a PCB disposed at a rear of the waterproof member, the PCB having a button switch coming into contact with the button unit according to user manipulation, and a PCB housing to fix the button unit, the waterproof member, and the PCB to a rear of the control panel.

The waterproof member and the button unit may form at least one drainage port communicating with the drainage channel, and the drainage port may guide water flowing along the drainage channel to a lower part of the control panel assembly.

The button unit may include at least one receiving groove formed at a rear of the at least one button, and the waterproof member may include at least one support boss coupled to the receiving groove to support the at least one button.

The at least one button may include a contact protrusion protruding from a rear thereof toward a rear of the button unit to contact the button switch provided at the PCB.

The waterproof member may include a first through hole formed through the support boss so that the contact protrusion contacts the button switch through the support boss.

The button unit may include a second through hole formed through the button unit to guide water introduced through a gap between the button hole and the button to the drainage channel or to guide the water introduced into the drainage channel to a front of the button unit.

The waterproof member may be formed of rubber exhibiting elasticity.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, a control panel assembly provided at a front of a cabinet of a washing machine to control an operation of the washing machine includes a control panel obliquely disposed at the front of the cabinet of the washing machine, a button unit having at least one button coupled to the control panel and exposed to a front of the control panel, a PCB disposed at a rear of the button unit and connected to the button unit, and a waterproof member coupled to the rear of the button unit to support the button unit and to prevent water introduced through a gap between the control panel and the button unit from permeating the PCB.

The waterproof member may include a drainage channel to drain the water introduced through the gap between the control panel and the button unit in cooperation with the button unit and at least one drainage port communicating with the drainage channel to guide water flowing along the drainage channel to a lower part of the control panel assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a control panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a button unit and a waterproof member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the button unit and the waterproof member when viewed from the rear;

FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of the button unit and the waterproof member;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a washing machine 1 includes a cabinet 10 forming the external appearance thereof, a tub 20 disposed in the cabinet 10, a drum 30 rotatably disposed in the tub 20, and a motor 40 to drive the drum 30.

An introduction port 11, through which laundry is introduced into the drum 30, is formed at the front of the cabinet 10. The introduction port 11 is opened and closed by a door 12 installed at the front of the cabinet 10.

Above the tub 20 is installed a water supply pipe 50 to supply wash water to the tub 20. One side of the water supply pipe 50 is connected to a water supply valve 56, and the other side of the water supply pipe 50 is connected to a detergent box 52.

The detergent box 52 is connected to the tub 20 via a connection pipe 54. Water, supplied through the water supply pipe 50, is supplied into the tub 20 together with detergent via the detergent box 52.

The tub 20 is supported by a damper 78. The damper 78 is connected between the inside bottom of the cabinet 10 and the outside of the tub 20.

The drum 30 includes a cylinder part 31, a front plate 32 disposed at the front of the cylinder part 31, and a rear plate 33 disposed at the rear of the cylinder part 31. An opening 32 a, through which laundry is introduced and removed, is formed at the front plate 32. A drive shaft 42 to transmit power from the motor 40 to the drum 30 is connected to the rear plate 33.

The drum 30 is provided at the circumference thereof with a plurality of through holes 34, through which wash water flows. The drum 30 is provided at the inner circumference thereof with a plurality of lifters 35, by which laundry is raised and dropped when the drum 30 is rotated.

The drive shaft 42 is disposed between the drum 30 and the motor 40. One end of the drive shaft 42 is connected to the rear plate 33 of the drum 30, and the other end of the drive shaft 42 extends to the outside of the rear wall of the tub 20. When the drive shaft 42 is driven by the motor 40, the drum 30 connected to the drive shaft 42 is rotated about the drive shaft 42.

At the rear wall of the tub 20 is installed a bearing housing 70 to rotatably support the drive shaft 42. The bearing housing 70 may be made of an aluminum alloy. The bearing housing 70 may be inserted into the rear wall of the tub 20 when the tub 20 is injection molded. Between the bearing housing 70 and the drive shaft 42 are installed bearings 72 to smoothly rotate the drive shaft 42.

Under the tub 20 are provided a drainage pump 80 to discharge water in the tub 20 out of the cabinet 10, a connection hose 82 connected between the tub 20 and the drainage pump 80 so that water in the tub 20 is introduced into the drainage pump 80, and a drainage hose 84 to guide water pumped by the drainage pump 80 out of the cabinet 10.

To the tub 20 is mounted a drying device 90 to dry air in the tub 20 and supply the dried air into the tub 20.

Meanwhile, a control panel assembly 100 to enable a user to control the operation of the washing machine is provided at the upper part of the front of the cabinet 10.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a control panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 3, a control panel assembly 100 includes a control panel 110 obliquely disposed at the front of the cabinet 10, a button unit 120 coupled to the rear of the control panel 110, a printed circuit board (PCB) 130 disposed at the rear of the button unit 120 and connected to the button unit 120, a waterproof member 140 coupled to the rear of the button unit 120 to prevent moisture from permeating the PCB 130, a light emitting diode (LED) guide 150 to support a plurality of LED devices 134 installed at the PCB 130 and to prevent light generated by the LED devices 134 from mixing, and a PCB housing 160 to receive the button unit 120, the waterproof member 140, and the PCB 130, which are sequentially disposed, and to fix the button unit 120, the waterproof member 140, and the PCB 130 to the rear of the control panel 110.

The control panel 110 includes a display window 112 to transmit light generated by a display device 132 so that a user is aware of the light, a detergent box receiving hole 114 formed through one side of the control panel 110 so that the detergent box 52 is detachably coupled to the inside of the cabinet 10, and at least one button hole 116 formed through the control panel 110 so that the button unit 120 is coupled to the button hole 116 in a state in which the button unit 120 is exposed to the front of the control panel 110.

At the front of the PCB 130 to electrically connect various parts in the cabinet 10 are provided a display device 132 to display various operation states of the washing machine 1 through the display window 112, a plurality of LED devices 134 to guide various operation states of the washing machine 1 in cooperation with the display device 132, and a button switch 136 operated by contact with at least one button 122 formed at the button unit 120. The button switch 136 is pressed by a contact protrusion 122 a protruding from the rear of the button 122 when a user presses the button 122 so that a predetermined operation of the washing machine is performed through the PCB 130.

The PCB housing 160 includes a receiving part 162 to receive and support the button unit 120, the PCB 130, the waterproof member 140, and the LED guide 150 and a plurality of fastening parts 164 formed at the outside of the receiving part 162 to couple the receiving part 162, in which the button unit 120, the PCB 130, the waterproof member 140, and the LED guide 150 are received, to the rear of the control panel 110.

Meanwhile, the control panel 110 and the PCB housing 160 may be formed of polycarbonate (PC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) by injection molding to stably support the button unit 120, the PCB 130, the waterproof member 140, and the LED guide 150.

The waterproof member 140 is coupled to the rear of the button unit 120 to support the button unit 120 and to prevent water introduced through a gap between the control panel 110 and the button unit 120 from permeating the PCB 130. Hereinafter, the structure and function of the waterproof member 140 and the button unit 120 coupled to the waterproof member 140 will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the button unit and the waterproof member of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the button unit and the waterproof member when viewed from the rear, FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of the button unit and the waterproof member, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the button unit 120 includes a button unit body 121, at least one button 122 inserted in the button hole 116, and at least one fastening hole 124 formed through the button unit body 121 so that the waterproof member 140 is coupled to the rear of the button unit 120 through the fastening hole 124.

The button unit body 121 is provided with a second through hole 129 to guide water introduced through the gap between the control panel 110 and the button unit 120 to a drainage channel 180 formed by the coupling of the button unit 120 and the waterproof member 140 or to, when a large amount of water is instantaneously introduced into the drainage channel 180, guide the water introduced into the drainage channel 180 to the front of the button unit 120.

Also, the button unit body 121 includes a fastening hole 124 formed through the button unit body 121 so as to be coupled to at least one fastening protrusion 148 of the waterproof member 140.

The at least one button 122 connected to the button unit body 121 protrudes forward from the front of the button unit body 121 and is inserted into the button hole 116 formed at the control panel 110 in a state in which the at least one button 122 is exposed to the front of the control panel 110 through the button hole 116 so that a user presses the at least one button 122.

The at least one button 122 is connected to the button unit body 121 through a circular hinge structure 126 so that the at least one button 122 is moved in the forward and backward direction of the button unit body 121 according to a pressing operation. The circular hinge structure 126 includes a connection rib 126 a to connect the button unit body 121 and the at least one button 122 by a hinge structure and a connection rib hole 126 b formed through the button unit body 121 in the connection rib 126 a so that the connection rib 126 a is moved in the forward and backward direction.

At the rear of the at least one button 122 is formed a receiving groove 128 to receive a support boss 142. As will be described below, the support boss 142 is received and coupled in the receiving groove 128 to support the at least one button 122.

Also, the at least one button 122 includes a contact protrusion 122 a protruding from the rear thereof toward the rear of the button unit 120. To prevent malfunction of the washing machine 1, the contact protrusion 122 a is spaced apart from the button switch 136 by a predetermined distance. When a user presses the button 122, the contact protrusion 122 a formed at the rear of the button 122 comes into contact with the button switch 136 to press the button switch 136 so that a predetermined operation of the washing machine is performed.

The waterproof member 140 includes a waterproof member body 141 having a shape corresponding to the button unit body 121, at least one support boss 142 having a shape corresponding to the receiving groove 128 of the button unit 120 so as to be coupled to the receiving groove 128 of the button unit 120, and at least one fastening protrusion 148 coupled to the fastening hole 124 of the button unit 120.

The waterproof member body 141 includes a fastening protrusion 148 extending through the waterproof member body 141 and coupled to the at least one fastening hole 124 of the button unit 120.

The at least one support boss 142 protrudes forward from the front of the waterproof member body 141 by a predetermined length and is received in the receiving groove 128 at the rear of the button unit 120 to elastically support the at least one button 122. Since the at least one button 122 is supported by the support boss 142 coupled to the rear thereof, pressing force and touch sensitivity of the button 122 are improved. Also, the button 122 is prevented from drooping by gravity or from moving due to minute vibration.

The support boss 142 is provided at the central part thereof with a first through hole 144 formed through the support boss 142. In a state in which the button unit 120 is coupled to the support boss 140, the contact protrusion 122 a is disposed at a position where the contact protrusion 122 a contacts the button switch 136 through the first through hole.

Meanwhile, the waterproof member 140 may be formed of rubber exhibiting elasticity and a waterproof function, by which the waterproof member 140 supports the button unit 120 and prevents water introduced into the button unit 120 from permeating the PCB 130.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the waterproof member 140 is coupled to the rear of the button unit 120 to form a drainage channel 180 and at least one drainage port 182 communicating with the drainage channel 180.

Water introduced through the gap between the control panel 110 and the button unit 120 is introduced into the drainage channel 180 through the second through hole 129 or the connection rib hole 126 b of the circular hinge structure 126. The water, introduced into the drainage channel 180, flows to the lower part of the drainage channel 180 and is drained to the lower part of the cabinet 10 through the at least one drainage port 182 communicating with the drainage channel 180.

When a large amount of water exceeding the maximum capacity of the drainage channel 180 is introduced through the gap between the control panel 110 and the button unit 120, the water introduced into the drainage channel 180 flows to the front of the button unit 120 through the second through hole 129, is introduced into the drainage channel 180 through the connection rib hole 126 of the circular hinge structure 126 while flowing along the front of the button unit 120, and is drained to the lower part of the cabinet 10 through the at least one drainage port 182 or is naturally evaporated. As a result, the water is removed from the button unit 120.

As described above, the waterproof member 140 is coupled to the rear of the button unit 120 to form the drainage channel in cooperation with the button unit 120 and hermetically seals the remaining parts excluding the drainage port 182, thereby effectively preventing water, introduced into the button unit 120 through the gap between the control panel 110 and the button unit 120, from permeating the PCB 130.

Also, it may not be necessary to coat the surface of the PCB with urethane for waterproof coating, thereby improving productivity and preventing the occurrence of product defects, which may occur if waterproof coating is not uniform.

As is apparent from the above description, the waterproof member forming the drainage channel to drain moisture introduced into the control panel assembly is coupled to the rear of the manipulation button, thereby preventing the moisture introduced into the control panel assembly from permeating the PCB.

Also, waterproof coating of the PCB may not be necessary, thereby improving productivity and product reliability.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet; a control panel provided at a front of the cabinet; a button unit provided at the control panel; a printed circuit board (PCB) provided at a rear of the control panel; and a waterproof member provided between the button unit and the PCB to prevent water introduced into the button unit from permeating the PCB.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof member is coupled to a rear of the button unit to form a drainage channel to drain the water introduced into the button unit in cooperation with the button unit.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the waterproof member and the button unit form at least one drainage port communicating with the drainage channel to guide water flowing along the drainage channel to a lower part of the cabinet.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the control panel comprises at least one button hole formed through the control panel, and the button unit comprises at least one button protruding from a front thereof and exposed to a front of the control panel through the at least one button hole.
 5. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the button unit comprises a receiving groove formed at a position corresponding to the at least one button, and the waterproof member comprises at least one support boss protruding from a front thereof and received in the receiving groove to support the at least one button.
 6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the at least one button comprises a contact protrusion protruding from a rear thereof toward a rear of the control panel to contact the PCB.
 7. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the waterproof member comprises a first through hole formed through the support boss so that the contact protrusion contacts the PCB through the support boss.
 8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the button unit comprises a second through hole formed through the button unit to guide water introduced through a gap between the button hole and the button exposed to the front of the control panel through the button hole to the drainage channel.
 9. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the button unit and the waterproof member are obliquely disposed so that the water introduced into the button unit is drained to the lower part of the cabinet through the drainage port.
 10. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof member is formed in a shape corresponding to the button unit.
 11. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the waterproof member comprises at least one fastening protrusion protruding from a front thereof, and the button unit comprises at least one fastening hole provided at a position corresponding to the at least one fastening protrusion so that the at least one fastening protrusion is coupled to the at least one fastening hole.
 12. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the waterproof member is formed of rubber exhibiting elasticity.
 13. A washing machine comprising a control panel assembly to control an operation of the washing machine, wherein the control panel assembly comprises: a control panel disposed at a front of a cabinet of the washing machine, the control panel having at least one button hole; a button unit having at least one button exposed to a front of the control panel through the at least one button hole; a waterproof member formed in a shape corresponding to the button unit and coupled to a rear of the button unit to form a drainage channel to drain the water introduced into the button unit in cooperation with the button unit; a PCB disposed at a rear of the waterproof member, the PCB having a button switch coming into contact with the button unit according to user manipulation; and a PCB housing to fix the button unit, the waterproof member, and the PCB to a rear of the control panel.
 14. The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the waterproof member and the button unit form at least one drainage port communicating with the drainage channel, and the drainage port guides water flowing along the drainage channel to a lower part of the control panel assembly.
 15. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the button unit comprises at least one receiving groove formed at a rear of the at least one button, and the waterproof member comprises at least one support boss coupled to the receiving groove to support the at least one button.
 16. The washing machine according to claim 15, wherein the at least one button comprises a contact protrusion protruding from a rear thereof toward a rear of the button unit to contact the button switch provided at the PCB.
 17. The washing machine according to claim 16, wherein the waterproof member comprises a first through hole formed through the support boss so that the contact protrusion contacts the button switch through the support boss.
 18. The washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the button unit comprises a second through hole formed through the button unit to guide water introduced through a gap between the button hole and the button to the drainage channel or to guide the water introduced into the drainage channel to a front of the button unit.
 19. The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the waterproof member is formed of rubber exhibiting elasticity.
 20. A control panel assembly provided at a front of a cabinet of a washing machine to control an operation of the washing machine, wherein the control panel assembly comprises: a control panel obliquely disposed at the front of the cabinet of the washing machine; a button unit having at least one button coupled to the control panel and exposed to a front of the control panel; a PCB disposed at a rear of the button unit and connected to the button unit; and a waterproof member coupled to the rear of the button unit to support the button unit and to prevent water introduced through a gap between the control panel and the button unit from permeating the PCB.
 21. The control panel assembly according to claim 20, wherein the waterproof member comprises a drainage channel to drain the water introduced through the gap between the control panel and the button unit in cooperation with the button unit and at least one drainage port communicating with the drainage channel to guide water flowing along the drainage channel to a lower part of the control panel assembly. 